Light, jade & color

Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.

On'yomi (音読み) is the reading borrowed from Chinese, usually used in compound words, e.g. 三月 (さんがつ, March).

Kun'yomi (訓読み) is the native Japanese reading, used when the kanji stands alone or takes kana endings, e.g. 三つ (みっつ, three items).

By convention the readings list writes on'yomi in katakana (シュ) and kun'yomi in hiragana (さけ). Example words show furigana in hiragana, so the same on'yomi can look like シュ in the list but しゅ in a word.

Blue - the main radical the kanji is filed under in dictionaries.

Green - a component that hints at the meaning.

Orange - a component that hints at the reading (sound).

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Grey - another building block, with no clear meaning or sound role.

#1

Meaning

vague, dim

Components

On'yomi

アイ

Example words
曖昧あいまい

vague, ambiguous

曖昧模糊あいまいもこ

vague and obscure

曖昧さあいまいさ

ambiguity

#2

Meaning

flourishing, vigorous

Components

On'yomi

オウ

Example words
旺盛おうせい

vigorous, exuberant

食欲旺盛しょくよくおうせい

hearty appetite

気力旺盛きりょくおうせい

full of energy

#3

Meaning

daybreak, morning

Components

On'yomi

タン | ダン

Example words
元旦がんたん

New Year's Day

一旦いったん

once; for a moment

旦那だんな

husband; master

#4

Meaning

dark, obscure

Components

On'yomi

マイ

Example words
曖昧あいまい

vague, ambiguous

三昧ざんまい

absorption, indulgence

蒙昧もうまい

ignorance, benightedness

#5

Meaning

play with, toy

Components

On'yomi

ガン

Example words
玩具がんぐ

toy

愛玩あいがん

cherishing, pet

玩味がんみ

appreciation, savoring

#6

Meaning

jewel, gem disk

Components

On'yomi

ヘキ

Example words
完璧かんぺき

perfect, flawless

双璧そうへき

two matchless things

完璧主義かんぺきしゅぎ

perfectionism

#7

Meaning

lapis lazuli; glass

Components

On'yomi

Example words
瑠璃るり

lapis lazuli; deep blue

浄瑠璃じょうるり

joruri (ballad drama)

玻璃はり

crystal, glass

#8

Meaning

lapis lazuli

Components

On'yomi

Example words
瑠璃るり

lapis lazuli; deep blue

瑠璃色るりいろ

azure, lapis blue

浄瑠璃じょうるり

joruri (ballad drama)

#9

Meaning

spot, speckle

Components

On'yomi

ハン

Kun'yomi

まだら

Example words
斑点はんてん

spot, speckle

斑紋はんもん

spots, mottling

蒙古斑もうこはん

Mongolian spot

#10

Meaning

take; dice; appearance

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Example words
采配さいはい

command, direction

喝采かっさい

applause, cheers

風采ふうさい

appearance, bearing

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.